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NT Tourism 2030 strategic plan

Consultation has concluded

As the Northern Territory Government's Tourism Vision 2020 comes to a close, the Department of Tourism and Culture is initiating development of the NT Tourism 2030 strategic plan.

Announced through Turbocharging Tourism, the NT Government has committed to evolving the next NT tourism vision into an industry-led, co-owned and co-developed strategy. This Tourism Industry Development Strategic Plan will ensure that tourism in the Territory is operating with a shared vision, shared priorities and with shared accountability and will be delivered by Deloitte Access Economics in December 2018.

How to have your say

Get involved and help shape the future of tourism in the Northern Territory:

• Take our survey below and tell us about your ideas and aspirations
• Attend a regional forum and share your input and vision
• Surveys & Forms

Have your say on the NT Tourism 2030 strategic plan .  This survey will take approximately 10 minutes.

Project Stages

This consultation opened for contributions on 4 September 2018.

This consultation closes on 16 November 2018.

Regional Workshops

• Darwin 10 September 2018
• Jabiru 11 September 2018
• Katherine 12 September 2018
• Nhulunbuy 14 September 2018

Document Library

Tourism is an important economic driver for the Northern Territory (NT) and a significant industry in regional areas. Tourism’s contribution to the NT economy is captured in a range of industries. These include accommodation and food services, retail trade, culture and recreation, and transport. In this section, analysis is provided on domestic and international visitor numbers and their habits, cruise ships and visitors, accommodation, aviation, attractions and infrastructure, and marketing initiatives.

Economic contribution | Contribution to employment | International visitors | Domestic visitors | Accommodation | Aviation | Cruise ships | Explanatory notes

Tourism is an important economic driver for the NT and a significant industry in regional areas. Tourism’s contribution to the NT economy is captured in a range of industries, including accommodation and food services, retail trade, culture and recreation, rental and hiring, construction, and transport.

Tourism Research Australia (TRA) reports the direct and indirect impact of expenditure and employment of tourism at the state and territory level based on data from the ABS’ National Tourism Satellite Accounts. The Department of Treasury and Finance work closely with the Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade (DITT) to compile information on the NT’s tourism industry.

For more industry and tourism related data, including visitor factsheets, marketing, sector development and initiatives, visit DITT’s Tourism NT Corporate website. Unless otherwise stated, the following analysis is based on estimates published by TRA.

Economic contribution

• In 2021-22, the tourism industry in the NT is estimated to have directly contributed  $784 million or 2.5% to gross state product.
• For further information visit the TRA website for the Tourism Satellite Accounts publication available in the economic analysis section.

Contribution to employment

• In 2021-22, tourism was a large employer in the NT with the sector directly employing about 6,900 people, which increased to about 12,500 people when the indirect contribution is accounted for (about 5,600 people).
• For further information please go to the TRA website for the Tourism Satellite Accounts publication available in the economic analysis section.

International visitors

• International visitor numbers to the NT increased to an estimated 180,000 visitors in the year ending September 2023, a significant increase from the estimated 44,000 international visitors in the year ending September 2022 (Chart 1) as international border restrictions eased in early 2022.
• Holiday and leisure visitors make up the largest proportion of international and domestic visitors to the NT at approximately 53%.
• Visit TRA's Data and research collection for a detailed breakdown of data. Additional analysis is available from  Tourism NT .

Domestic visitors

• In the year ending September 2023, 1.4 million interstate and intrastate overnight visitors travelled to and within the NT, decreasing by 5.8%. NT domestic visitors make up about 1.2% of national domestic visitors.
• The decrease in domestic visitors reflects decreases in holiday and leisure trips (down by 12.9% to 704,000 visitors) and persons visiting friends and relatives (down by 2.7% to 184,000) over this period (Chart 3).
• Domestic visitation decreased by 15.3% to 971,000 visitors to the Top End, and visitors to Central Australia increased by 13.1% to 439,000 visitors over the period.
• Interstate visitation to the NT decreased by 7.9% to 787,000 visitors in the year ending September 2023. New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia represent the largest interstate source markets for the NT (Chart 4).

Accommodation

• The NT, Darwin and Alice Springs region monthly accommodation reports are sourced from daily data provided by participating hotels to the STR (formally known as Smith Travel Research) Global survey. For detailed information on accommodation, visit the research section on the Tourism NT website.
• NT occupancy rates for October 2023 were lower compared to October 2022, largely due to a decrease in hotel demand and increase in hotel supply.
• The Territory’s tourism industry relies heavily on aviation due to large distances between major tourist attractions within the Territory and the remoteness of Darwin and Alice Springs from major metropolitan areas in other jurisdictions.
• The Territory is serviced by four domestic airlines and four international airlines.

Cruise ships

• The cruise and expedition ship sector is traditionally a key part of the tourism industry in the Top End, particularly over the tropical summer period, generating an estimated $60 million of annual expenditure within the Territory pre‑COVID‑19. A declaration under the Biosecurity Act 2015 has prevented foreign cruise ships or large passenger vessels capable of carrying more than 100 passengers from entering Australian waters for the past 2 years. This restriction was removed on 18 April 2022.
• The Northern Territory Government is implementing the Cruise Tourism Strategy 2022-2025 to increase both cruise liners and expedition ships over the next 3 years. Based on current data, there are 103 ships booked in to visit Darwin this season, with a passenger capacity of approximately 60,000 visitors and an expected expenditure of $65 million.

Explanatory notes

• NT tourism data is based primarily on data sourced from TRA. Their international visitor survey is conducted by computer-assisted personal interviewing in the departure lounges of the eight major international airports: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Cairns, Perth, Adelaide, Darwin and Gold Coast. Survey results are weighted to data provided by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship on international visitor numbers with the assistance of the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
• TRA revised international visitor survey estimates from 2005 to 2018 with the release of year ending December 2018 data. The revisions focus on purpose-of-visit estimates, with minimal change to visitor, nights and spend estimates. As results have been revised back to 2005, they cannot be used or compared with previously published data.
• The national visitor survey (NVS) includes any Australian resident who is 15 years of age or older and has lived in their current residence for at least three months. Up to the end of 2013, the NVS sample only included residential landline phones, but from January 2014 onwards the sample design was modified by the addition of mobile phones.
• For further information on the methodology used by TRA for their international and national visitor surveys go to TRA  website .
• The NT, Darwin and Alice Springs monthly accommodation reports are sourced from daily data provided by participating hotels to the STR Global survey. This data is accumulated and averaged for the month and used as the basis for the analysis.

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The mandate of the Minister and the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment (ITI) is to promote economic self-sufficiency through funding, support, and marketing initiatives designed to foster a positive economic environment in our territory.

The Department is divided into program divisions structured under two directional priorities—Economic Development and Mines and Petroleum Resources.

Three additional Divisions support the divisions and regional offices of the Department in areas of policy, legislation, communications, finance, administration and technical services. These integral functions ensure ITI’s initiatives are well-planned and implemented.

Regional offices in Yellowknife (North Slave), Fort Smith (South Slave), Norman Wells (Sahtu), Fort Simpson (Dehcho) and Inuvik (Beaufort Delta) support the Department’s regional delivery model and ensure program support and assistance is available in every community in the Northwest Territories.

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Women’s Leadership Network hosts inspiring event

Published 02 April 2024

The Women’s Leadership Network (WLN) and the Northern Australia Capacity and Response Network (NAPCaRN) recently hosted Tracey Sawyer, founder of Testigo Africa and Tina Haywood, First Nations mentor and author.

Tracey Sawyer, a qualified lawyer, accountant and marketer, has been involved with Tanzania since 2004. The attendees heard about Tracey’s interesting and rewarding experiences, teaching Maasai women and men to grow their own food for the first time, using permaculture techniques.

Permaculture is a principle in which the environment, people and resources work in harmony to produce cyclical benefits with zero waste.

Tracey explained she wants to see Indigenous communities contribute to the social and economic fabric of society on an equal footing with everyone else.

‘I am passionate about empowering the Maasai communities we work with, and nothing is more empowering than education.’  Tracey is now bringing her passion for working with remote Indigenous communities to the Top End, as a strategy and engagement consultant with an Aboriginal directed and owned consultancy.

The WLN was also delighted to welcome author and mentor, Tina Haywood, a proud Yupungathi/Gangalidda woman from a Queensland outback community.

With a remarkable 11-year career in the army, Tina embodies confidence, and courage of a mother who wears many hats. Tina's journey isn't just about breaking cycles; she's pioneering the way forward, blazing a trail for herself and inspiring countless others along the way.

As a living example, Tina Haywood shows that anyone can become who they aspire to be, regardless of their background. Through her resilience, confidence, and courage, she lights a path for others to follow, bridging worlds and paving the way for a brighter future for generations to come.

“Restart, reset and refocus as many times as you need. You are your own greatest project. But just always remember don’t give up on yourself” Tina Haywood.

More information

For more information or to join the Women’s Leadership Network and the Northern Australia Capacity and Response Network (NAPCaRN), please contact  [email protected] .

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Our corporate structure

Tourism NT is a division of the Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade. Guiding the strategic direction and objectives of Tourism NT are:

• Minister for Tourism and Hospitality
• Tourism NT Board
• Tourism NT Organisation Chart 

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Restaurant owners fined for operating unsafe gas appliances, putting patrons at risk

The owners of a popular Korean restaurant was fined $12,000 this morning in the Darwin Local Court for operating unsafe gas appliances and putting their patrons health and safety at risk.

Family partnership C.J LEE & D.J LEE, which operated the now closed Little Miss Korea restaurant, entered an early guilty plea to a consolidated charge under Section 32 of the Work Health and Safety (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2011 for failing its primary duty of care under Sections 19(2), 19(3)(b) and 19(3)(d) of the Act.

In September 2022, NT WorkSafe commenced an investigation after five patrons dining at Little Miss Korea were burnt from a flash fire. At the time of the incident, the patrons were cooking their food using a charcoal barbeque grill unit (BBQ grill) when the flash fire occurred.

NT WorkSafe’s investigation found the BBQ grill was equipped with a gas burner fuelled by a butane gas cartridge used for igniting the charcoal. The investigation found the design of the BBQ grill exposed the butane gas cartridge to radiant heat from the heated charcoal due to the close proximity of the gas cartridge compartment and charcoal basin. This created a risk to health and safety if the butane gas cartridge over pressurised, leading to an explosion or fire.

The investigation found on the night of the incident, the gas burner was not used as the charcoal was ignited in the kitchen and brought to the table and placed in the BBQ grill. Despite this, the butane gas cartridge was left in the cartridge compartment in the BBQ grill.

The Northern Territory’s Work Health and Safety Regulator, Ms Peggy Cheong said this incident is a timely reminder of the importance of gas safety and businesses should check that their gas appliances either comply with the Australian Standards, or have been approved by the Australian Gas Association, or the Australian Liquefied Petroleum Gas Association or NT WorkSafe.

“Gas appliances that do not comply with the Australian Standards, and have not been approved by either of the three agencies name should not be used,” Ms Cheong said.

“Butane gas cartridges are also classed as hazardous and a dangerous good, with employers and workers needing to familiarise and follow the manufacturer’s safety information to ensure the cartridges safe use.”

“The risk of butane gas cartridges exploding should not be dismissed as a remote possibility,” Ms Cheong said.

“Four months ago a kitchen worker in Palmerston was injured when a butane gas cartridge exploded.”

“NT WorkSafe’s preliminary finds into that incident indicated the butane gas cartridge was stored in a compartment of a commercial oven and exploded possibly due to radiant heat from the appliance.”

Related documents

• Restaurant patrons injured in gas related incident [Safety alert]
• Charges laid over CBD restaurant gas incident [Media release]
• Butane canister explosion injures kitchen staff [Incident information release]

Traditional owners sound alarm over erosion of toxic waste rock wall at McArthur River Mine after floods

Traditional owners say they are "really worried" about erosion at a mountain of acidic waste rock at one of the world's largest zinc and lead mines, in the wake of flooding from ex-Tropical Cyclone Megan.

Last week the Northern Territory mining town of Borroloola experienced one of its worst flooding events in years, leading to the evacuation of hundreds of residents.

At the nearby McArthur River Mine, record levels of rain were recorded, reaching 274 millimetres in just 24 hours to surpass a 50-year rainfall record of 197mm set in 1974.

The flooding has led to the mine temporarily shutting down to deal with "excess water across the site", an NT government spokesperson told the ABC, and it could remain at a standstill as the extent of the damage is assessed. 

A spokeswoman from the McArthur River Mine told the ABC there had also been "superficial erosion in a drainage channel that directs run-off from the surface of the waste rock pile into water dams".

However she said there had "not been any landslide or collapse of the waste rock dump", and that the "stability and integrity" of the dump had not been impacted by the weather and "it continues to function as per its design".

The NT government has confirmed it is investigating the erosion and will be visiting the mine this week.

"A site inspection is being planned for Wednesday by representatives from the Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade along with the Department of Environment, Parks and Water Security," a government spokesperson said. 

Jack Green, a Garawa man and senior elder in Borroloola, and Josephine Davey, a Gudanji woman and native title holder of the McArthur River Mine site area, said they had become aware of the erosion on Saturday as they drove past. 

"Out of the corner of my eye I saw there was a hole up on the waste dump ... the froth was all running down [and] the wall looked a bit funny to me," Mr Green said. 

"It's really worried people ... how much more if the next flood comes ... or rain, is it going to do the same thing?"

"We had that doubt it was going to happen one day ... what's going to happen if it does collapse somewhere down the line?"

He said he was concerned toxicity from the erosion could affect people downstream of the mine.

Only parts of the western side of the extensive waste rock dump can be seen from the road. 

"I think everyone would like to know what's happening on the eastern side of the waste dump," Mr Green said. 

Ms Davey told the ABC she was not alone in her concern. 

"We are worried, my people are worried [about] the damage there at the mine," she said.  

Environment Centre says erosion suggests problems

The McArthur River Mine, located about 1,000 kilometres south-east of Darwin near the community of Borroloola, has been at the  centre of a string of environmental scandals ,  several high-profile legal battles, and instances of contamination and mismanagement of toxic waste.

NT Environment Centre director Kirsty Howey said the erosion at the mine's waste rock dump suggested there were problems with the structure. 

"We know this is a toxic waste rock dump, it contains masses of potentially flammable material," she said. 

"We have promises from the mine that it had integrity and that it was stable and that it could and would remain in place for 1,000 years post monitoring.

"It's extremely concerning that after a rainfall event that we've already got erosion." 

Mining giant Glencore, which operates the McArtuhr River Mine, largely has approval to significantly expand the mine.

But the NT's Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority has refused to approve plans for the height of the dump to be almost doubled to 140 metres, due to fears the steep sides of the dump could collapse onto adjacent sacred sites .

"If the slope isn't stable, that can be absolutely catastrophic for the nearby McArthur River because there is so much toxic material in that waste rock dump," Ms Howey said. 

"Just 40km downstream, you've got the town of Borroloola and the river runs straight through the middle of it so this could have very wide impacts and it's really important both the environment and the health of people in Borroloola are looked after."

An NT government spokesperson said staff at the McArthur River Mine would continue to undertake assessments of the "scale and extent of damage" and prioritise remediation ahead of any mining. 

A McArthur River Mine spokeswoman said the mine was beginning the process of returning to normal operations. 

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Evacuation ordered as 'one-in-100-year' flood predicted following ex-Tropical Cyclone Megan

Mining giant blocked from port expansion in High Court win for native title holders

Traditional owners challenge Supreme Court decision on McArthur River Mine

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